Species Details

Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

Common NamePrairie Bird-dropping Moth SeasonalityAdults have been collected in Alberta in late June. IdentificationA small (approx. 2 cm wingspan) bright white moth with the outer half of the forewing crossed by a broad dark brown and grey band except for the costa, which is white for two-thirds of its length and divided at the mid-point by an orange patch. There is a round dark spot ringed with paler scales at the end of the disc. The hindwings are white, shaded with grey brown near the margin, more extensively in the female. Fringes white and antennae simple. The related Conochares arizonae is similar but has more dark scaling on both wings and lacks the yellow-orange of binocula.

Scientific Name Tarachidia binocula Common Name Prairie Bird-dropping Moth Habitat Dry native grassland. Seasonality Adults have been collected in Alberta in late June. Identification
A small (approx. 2 cm wingspan) bright white moth with the outer half of the forewing crossed by a broad dark brown and grey band except for the costa, which is white for two-thirds of its length and divided at the…
A small (approx. 2 cm wingspan) bright white moth with the outer half of the forewing crossed by a broad dark brown and grey band except for the costa, which is white for two-thirds of its length and divided at the mid-point by an orange patch. There is a round dark spot ringed with paler scales at the end of the disc. The hindwings are white, shaded with grey brown near the margin, more extensively in the female. Fringes white and antennae simple. The related Conochares arizonae is similar but has more dark scaling on both wings and lacks the yellow-orange of binocula.
Life History Adults are nocturnal and come to light, but are also easily flushed during the day. There is a single annual brood. The larva has not been described and the host plants are unknown. Conservation Rarely collected in Alberta, which is at the northwestern edge of its range. Diet Info Unknown Range
Great Plains from southeastern southern Manitoba west to southeastern Alberta, southwest to Arizona. Also in remnant prairies east of the Mississippi (Ohio, Illinois). In Alberta it has been collected in the arid…
Great Plains from southeastern southern Manitoba west to southeastern Alberta, southwest to Arizona. Also in remnant prairies east of the Mississippi (Ohio, Illinois). In Alberta it has been collected in the arid shortgrass prairie region, north to Medicine Hat.

Citation

Page Citation for Tarachidia binocula

Page Citation

"Species Details - Tarachidia binocula, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3696. Accessed 08 Dec. 2024.

References

Specimen Information

There are 15 specimens of this Species.

15 results plotted on map in 10 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM13779 - Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Medicine Hat Collected ByBowman, K. Date Collected1943-06-25

UASM34539 - Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Melville Beach Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2003-05-30

UASM58070 - Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2004-06-24

UASM57228 - Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Pakowki Lake Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2004-06-23

UASM57537 - Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Buffalo Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2005-06-16

UASM58429 - Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Pakowki Lake Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2005-07-21

UASM58430 - Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Pakowki Lake Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2005-07-21

UASM77930 - Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Buffalo Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2005-06-16

UASM99478 - Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Pakowki Lake Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2008-08-10

UASM99479 - Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Pakowki Lake Collected ByAnweiler, G. G. Date Collected2008-08-10

JD4988 - Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Orion Collected ByDombroskie, J. J.; Rose, A. Date Collected2008-07-08

UASM163387 - Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1998-07-01

UASM163388 - Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1998-07-01

UASM163389 - Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1998-07-01

UASM163390 - Tarachidia binocula

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Saskatchewan, Burstall Collected ByTroubridge, J. Date Collected1999-07-13

Adult Seasonal Distribution